Gionta is one of our best two ways players. He comes to play every games and he is a low maintenance vet. He will give you 20-30 goals per season and, alongside Bourque and Plekanec, a line with boatloads of experience btw, he usually faces our opponent’s top line.

Gionta, just like Hamrlik before, has become our most underrated player. Am I surprised? Heck no (the following is not necessarily directed against the op): on hfboards, 27 years old + players are often labeled as “old”!

And yes, trading Gionta would be a tanking move: no one is ready to play against the same level of competition than him. Well... maybe Eller but that’s it. Gallagher first needs to learn how to protect himself.

I think he's fine, just struggling right now. still don't see why he is the habs captain.

His line is playing well so I don't see the need to break them up, he's not the player he used to be but after hearing Gallagher talk about how much he's helped him he still seems to be a good veteran to have around for now. He'll likely be gone after next year anyways.

That being said him and Cole need to GTFO the powerplay and we need to see Eller and Galchenyuk on it.

Don't understand the hate for Gionta. He's not scoring, but he is part of the reason why the team is having success. His defensive game is exceptional. Combined with Plekanec he's the reason why we are doing so well at shutting down opponents. Sure he's way overpaid for a defensive specialist, but he is still an integral part of the team defensive game. There would be a huge hole with him gone right now without an adequate replacement.

I expect to get attacked, but I stand by what I said. I have no problem with Gionta's game right now.

Reading that thread... is Coldplay in love with Gio or something? Christ. (for the record I ripped into Gio before it was vogue (training camp) and I predicted 5 games ago that he'd get the heat turned up on him... right on time)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy

Don't understand the hate for Gionta. He's not scoring, but he is part of the reason why the team is having success. His defensive game is exceptional. Combined with Plekanec he's the reason why we are doing so well at shutting down opponents. Sure he's way overpaid for a defensive specialist, but he is still an integral part of the team defensive game. There would be a huge hole with him gone right now without an adequate replacement.

I expect to get attacked, but I stand by what I said. I have no problem with Gionta's game right now.

You're arguments are invalid and I don't believe that you don't have ANY problem with Gio's game right now. You've got to be kidding me, the puck bounces off his stick every single time.

His line is playing well so I don't see the need to break them up, he's not the player he used to be but after hearing Gallagher talk about how much he's helped him he still seems to be a good veteran to have around for now. He'll likely be gone after next year anyways.

That being said him and Cole need to GTFO the powerplay and we need to see Eller and Galchenyuk on it.

Therrien keeps putting Gio on the PP over and over, what the Hell is that all about? He creates nothing. If we need to get this thing going, he indeed need to GTFO. He's even worse on the shootouts.

People have argued wich of DD or Eller needs to go but i'll argue the weak link is Gio. He's like Gomez at this point where all he does is skate well.

Don't understand the hate for Gionta. He's not scoring, but he is part of the reason why the team is having success. His defensive game is exceptional. Combined with Plekanec he's the reason why we are doing so well at shutting down opponents. Sure he's way overpaid for a defensive specialist, but he is still an integral part of the team defensive game. There would be a huge hole with him gone right now without an adequate replacement.

I expect to get attacked, but I stand by what I said. I have no problem with Gionta's game right now.

When analysing Gionta’s play, people often overlook the bolded part. Seriously, who, right now, can play against the same level of competition than him? As I already mentioned, maybe Eller but that’s it. Gallagher first needs to learn how to protect himself.

Sure, he brings leadership qualities and veteran presence, some goalscoring, but at what price ?

Making him our captain was kind of a mistake, IMO. Oh well, Gorges is prolly gonna be our next captain in a few years.

Thing is, when he came in, he had the right attitude and was a scoring machine. Just like Cammaleri. He was a pretty productive guy and even for his small size, he did all the right things, even crashing the net. He was always in front of the net and as such he was an example to the other players. But right now all his shots are peripheral and useless.

As far as Gorges, I actually think the ship has sailed for Gorges as captain of the Habs. He should have been named way back when the Habs named Gio. Next captain is gonna be younger.

lol I thought the exact same thing. I never seen much out of Gionta. Seems like he never says anything in the room either. (based on 24ch)

I wouldn't put any stock in that - besides there's evidence for both sides of the "leadership" argument. It's best to leave off-ice issues out of it, we don't know what it's like. All we get to really see is on the ice, where a 5'6" skater is three steps behind the play, shying away from contact and missing every pass and every shot.

Gionta... it's high and wide

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kimota

Therrien keeps putting Gio on the PP over and over, what the Hell is that all about? He creates nothing. If we need to get this thing going, he indeed need to GTFO. He's even worse on the shootouts.

People have argued wich of DD or Eller needs to go but i'll argue the weak link is Gio. He's like Gomez at this point where all he does is skate well.

He backchecks tenaciously and he has a strong work ethic. Can't ignore those aspects of his game.

Gionta shoots right which is a big plus for the PP, it allows for the cross crease one timers. Not that we've been doing it much but still. It was one of the reasons Metropolit got all that PP time when he was with us.

Gionta is at 0.5 ppg, not great but it's still fairly average for a top-6 player plus he's contributing in other ways (Leadership, Defensive play). For all the talk of him being useless and offence dying when he gets the puck his line is still productive so he can't be doing that bad. Unless his cap hit becomes a problem we should keep him.

With the emergence of Gallagher and Eller and the building efficiency of White as a fourth liner, I wonder if Habs should think of trading Gionta.

Here's my humble toughts :

1- Gionta isn't really efficient since 2 years now. Not dominant at all in any aspect of the game.
2- Gionta could bring a good return come the trade deadline because he still has value for a team going all the way (veteran, leadership, playoffs experience) or for a young team thinking they may win it all.
3- Trading Gionta wouldn't be a tanking move because he's replaceable, and it would still be a move to help the team for the future depending on what comes back.

I would contemplate the same thing for Cole, but not for both; Habs still need veteran presence. But Cole, the way he's playing, doesn't have the same value right now, and I do think he will turns things around, if not this year then next year.

What do you guys think about that?

What is the obsession with whipping boys and "getting rid of player X" threads? We are in 1st in the conference less than a year from being 15th. A big part of that is the leadership on and off the ice of guys like Cole, Gionta, Gorges etc. With a lot of young players having those guys around is worth it's weight in gold.

You're arguments are invalid and I don't believe that you don't have ANY problem with Gio's game right now. You've got to be kidding me, the puck bounces off his stick every single time.

Sorry man, I can't buy into the blind hate. Gionta's game goes beyond the As and Gs in the stats column. So many subtleties in his game that just are so key to this team's success night in and night out. I'm happy with the way he's playing, he's a key part of the Habs' team defense and why we're such stifling team in the neutral zone and successful on the backcheck.

Many people expected him to have lost a step by now. And he has.
He's just not a 1st line player any more. And I don't think He'll get his
usual 25 or so goals again.

But if he was on the last year of his contract, there would be a lot
of interest from strong teams. Whether he would waive his "no trade"
I have no idea.

But right now he is doing a good defensive job, and works well with
Plenkanec and Bourque. He does many little things that are expected of
good pros, and probably has the respect of the veterans and coaching
staff. And if his hands are not up to speed, that's the one thing that might
improve over the next few weeks. After all, he didn't play for a whole year.

In short. I think he's contributing. And he fit in well on that line, so leave
him there.

Seriously though, he's a very 1 dimensional player. Better suited as a 3rd liner on this team.

I'd like to see him removed from the PP, but put on the PK. His mobility could be useful there.

On most nights his line is the best one on the team and they play against the best opposing lines. He is one of our best defensive players, always backchecks like his life depends on it.

Some on here are so obsessed with crapping on somebody it's not even funny. Gio doesn't have great numbers but I see him out there every game busting his ass and the team is winning, no small coincidence.

Putting Gallagher against top lines as a rookie is a bad idea, and I don't see it happening.

I agree and we should not undervalue how important it was to give regular wingers to our best player upfront: Plekanec. Plekanec even mentioned it a few days ago. I like our first line: all vets, all business.